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The Terrible Old Man is one of those kinds of short stories that could’ve been a real thriller with just a bit more buildup of suspense. With that said, it’s also the kind of story that the reader can easily add onto, say, if they wanted to make it an even spookier tale for a Halloween/campfire gathering.
It’s 1897. A married woman, with children, somehow comes across a much needed $15 (adjusted for inflation, comes to about $606 today). How she decides to spend the money is still up to debate: a much needed day of self care, or a selfish disregard for her family? It’s all a matter of perspective. As for me? I would’ve used it in a way that the $15 would continue to make money for us (sell bread, can goods to be sold in the winter, etc.).
A great short story to read with the family as a means to introduce the importance of taking care of financial responsibilities while balancing it with the need to be a bit frivolous from time to time, without losing control.
A flawless masterpiece. This book leaves me with too much to say and not enough ways in which to express all the emotions and thoughts it stirs within me. The characters just leap from the page, the storyline is compelling and exquisitely written — not one wasted word.
And King proves yet again that sometimes the most frightening of tales doesn’t have to include excessive blood and gore. Sometimes the creeping dread in having to battle your moral dilemmas is frightening enough. The true horror lies in having to live with the decisions you’ve made.
📖 + 🎧
Not sure what I think of this one. I guess I was expecting more vampirey stuff. How Dracula came to be, his taking over the world by making most everyone undead, that sort of thing. With that said, I can see why this book took off and is revered as a classic.
Reading it through the perspective of someone from the time it was published, I can see how groundbreaking and scandalous this book must’ve been, and am surprised that it was published at all. The religious and sexual undertones. The idea of the undead “living” among us. The thought that if you live your life righteously, evil can still overtake you. The message that so long as you have enough money, you can do whatever you want, and that those with means can and will use their resources with bad intentions. Heavy stuff for that time.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you pair this read with the audiobook. Dr. Van Helsing’s character is long-winded (trust me on this!) and speeding up his spoken parts helped a lot. It took me way too long to finally read this classic. Shout-out to @Rue for giving me the push I needed. Present-day me would give this 3 stars, but when first published, I am sure I would have given it 4 to 5 stars. 🧛♂️ 🐺 🩸 🦇 ⚰️
A wonderfully witty yet touching story. I took my time reading the last few chapters because I did not want it to end. I love how the uncle was his true self at all times, never dummying down his manner of speaking for the small children’s sake. If they did not understand something said, they’d tell him so and he’d clarify. Simple (and always in a funny and unforgettable way so that the info was sure to stick).
Everyone in the story helped one another to not just “survive,” but to “thrive.” Sometimes, when you’re grieving or just not feeling yourself, you automatically feel just a bit better and more certain of yourself knowing you’re in a safe space in which you can express your troubles any way you wish and not be judged. Guncle Patrick is that safe space for the kids. Everyone should have a Guncle Patrick in their lives. That, and a caftain dress a la Mrs. Roper.
“Live your life to the fullest every single day, because every day is a gift. That’s why people die. To teach us the importance of living.”
📕+ 🎧+ 🎥
This one was just…meh. I enjoyed the backstory of each of the boys; a peek into their homelife and the fears/insecurities that come with it gripped me. I also enjoyed Gordie’s story, the one that provided a glimpse into his brother’s eventual outcome. And it’s the main reason for the boys getting together, to seek Ray Brower, that kept me reading on.
But there is a story about a pie eating contest that went on for way too long and I actually had to put the book down a few times and just do something else. I searched for the audiobook version to help me through, and although it may be an unpopular opinion, Wil Wheaton’s narration didn’t do it for me either. Off to see Stand by Me and compare it against the book. 📺 🍿
“Adults often think that self-confidence is something a child learns, but little kids are by their nature always invincible, it’s self-doubt that needs to be taught.”
As I read this I couldn’t help envisioning Demon Copperhead as being one of the friends. A story of hardship, friendship, and resilience. Heartbreakingly beautiful. It will make you want to thank anyone who has believed in you and loved you unconditionally. Do not take it for granted, thank them. And more importantly, pay it forward.
“The world is full of miracles, but none greater than how far a young person can be carried by someone else’s belief in them.”
“You get used to marvelous things. You take them for granted. You can try not to, but you do. There’s too much wonder, that’s all. It’s everywhere.”
Another fine work by The Master. What I’d like to request, however, is that in his next book featuring a child, pick an obnoxious and hateful one. I end up falling in love with the charismatic, precocious, and well-mannered youths in his books, only to have them possessed or stressed out from bearing great responsibilities for their ages. Throw in a snot-nosed, entitled, know-it-all jerk who needs to be scared straight, Mr. King.
I’m not sure this story is to everyone’s taste. With that said, I enjoyed it immensely. You know when you’re sick, say, you can’t breathe through your nose or taste your favorite foods? Then one day you wake up with a hearty appetite and you can taste again? You can take deep breaths? Everything around you just seems a little sweeter, more colorful and precious? That’s the kind of descriptive imagery this story gives off. It is written in high-def. I am sad that it's taken me so long to read this little 9-page fever dream for the first time, but glad to have come upon it all the same. As for the storyline itself, I’ll just steal that well-known lyric that goes, “what’s so civil about war anyway?”
I love everything Stephen King, but Elevation was a bit of a let down. I was hoping for a bit more magic to happen with Scott and his condition. And King narrating his own work: not for me 😬But take my review with a grain of salt, it could be my own grumpiness and self-pity talking because I’m a bit under the weather. Don’t come at me, SK fans! 🥸
Britt-Marie has spent a lifetime of serving others, losing herself in the process.
“Because if we don’t forgive those we love, then what is left? What is love if it’s not loving our lovers even when they don’t deserve it?”
There’s a fine line in forgiving those we love, when they have no intention of returning that love back, and loving yourself. If we lose love and respect for ourselves, we lose all belief in all the wonderful and amazing things we are capable of doing. I enjoyed Britt-Marie’s journey in finding herself.
Contains spoilers
“I wanted to…show the American public what happens to real living people swept up in a warped ideology.”
Two lifelong friends and business partners. They co-own an art gallery in San Francisco. They have been childhood friends since their days in Germany, where they’re both from. Max stays in America to manage the gallery. Martin goes back to Germany with his wife and kids. Max is Jewish. Martin is not.
Correspondence began in November 1932. Martin is settling in and speaks of Germany still being in political unrest and how much food costs now. Fortunately for him, he is living like royalty on the American dollar. He has a 30 room house, 10 acres, 10 servants, 3 ponies and German tutors for the kids.
“Is it for this we spend our lives? To scheme for money and then to strut it publicly…we are vain and we are dishonest because it is necessary to triumph over other vain and dishonest persons.” -Max
They sign off each letter affectionately, telling of the great love and esteem they have for one another. It is not until Adolf Hitler starts creating a buzz in January that there is noticeable tension within the friendship. Max doesn’t like the guy from Day 1. By March of that year, just four months after the initial correspondence, Martin was sold on Hitler’s ideology and thinks he is the one who will bring Germany back to its glory. Martin becomes an official in the new regime, rubs elbows with elite Nazis, and lands a nice job at a bank.
Word gets out from neighbors who have fled Germany and returned to the U.S. of the atrocities taking place there. Max doesn’t want to believe it and implores Martin to tell him the truth. Martin’s reply:
“As for the stern measures that so distress you, I myself did not like them at first but I have come to see their painful necessity. The jewish race is a sore spot to any nation that harbors it…you will not see that a few must suffer for millions to be saved.”
Max is hopeful that Martin is so scared of the censorship and propaganda happening, that he is only speaking in this way for fear that Nazis are watching/listening over everything being said. Martin assures him he is speaking from his own beliefs and tells Max not to talk to him anymore. He wants no part of Jews unless he is getting money from it. Max’s reply:
“Your new attitude, I cannot discuss. But you must understand me, I did not expect you would take up arms for my people because they are my people, but because you were a man who loved justice.”
So much more happens after this, but I’ll stop here because it’s mirroring too much of our current times, and…I just can’t….
When asked what prompted her to write Address Unknown, the author said it was down to a couple of German friends who lived in America and moved back to Germany just before the war. When they came back for a visit, they would not tolerate hearing any criticism of Hitler.
They happened to come across a very dear friend of theirs on the street, and when he stretched out his arms for an embrace, her friends turned their backs to him and kept walking because he was Jewish. She couldn’t believe how they changed in such a short amount of time. In writing the book, she hoped to inform the American public of what was hapoening, and in doing so, find some kind of answers as to what went wrong and how this was allowed to happen.
I spent about an hour reading this book. It will take lifetimes to process and get any satisfactory answers as to how and why any of this was allowed to happen. Change a few names around and this book could very well have been written about our current political climate. The more things change…
🎧
“I want you to always remember that you can become whatever you want to become, but that’s nowhere near as important as knowing that you can be exactly who you are.”
Listened to the audiobook version on Libby (only 3 hrs; excellent narrator). What a gem! Writing to his 1 ½ year old son, Fredrik imparts his best advice, fears, triumphs and dad hacks using examples of his own experiences as hilarious points to note. It’s such a fun and relatable read that for once I thought he’d left out those little emotional bombs he drops that all of a sudden bring a lump to the throat and a tear to the eye, wait until you get about 43% in!
This is a love letter to friendship, marriage, parenthood and all that comes before it and after. There are so many quotable moments that you might as well just dip the book in highlighter, if you’re annotating. This would make an exceptionally nice Father’s Day gift from a father to a son who is soon to become a first time dad. Would make for a fun little beach read or palate cleanser as well.
Life-long friends. Some secretly resent one another for their achievements or seemingly care/free lifestyles. There’s the peacemaker who puts out fires while quietly smoldering in her own inferno. And as with any friendship, there are going to be opinions and disagreements along the way. In a true friendship, such as this one, there is forgiveness, reflection and self-growth. I enjoyed this one. It had a good balance of sad, funny, tense and serious moments. A substantial beach read.
“Staying alive costs money.”
This book’s main character felt like a high school senior whose plans for the future were up in the air, and she was drowning in thoughts of her uncertain future post graduation. Ah Ro’s role: the kind and intune guidance counselor who holds her hand and gives the teen the resources and support she needs to help carve her path in life.
This story is nuts! It starts out in 1980 with Andy,16, being given the task of testing his dad’s amusement park rides. Rides constructed by people his dad knew in a past life or hired on the cheap. Andy faces the Cannonball Loop, which is scheduled to premiere in a month’s time, and as much as Andy likes to test out his teenaged bravado, even this scary looking ride gives him pause. The rides keep getting more dangerous, so much so that the media is picking up on it and writing stories about it to warn the public. This media attention only serves to make it a must-visit kind of place for thrill seekers.
Andy and his siblings just keep getting more and more banged up until they get the hang of the rides and learn to ride them with as little injury as possible, but customers don’t have this advantage (?), and they don’t seem to mind. Seeing with his own eyes how rides are erected at Action Park, and witnessing the near fatality of its patrons when riding them, would not only give me pause, I’d run in the opposite direction without ever looking back.
Still, with all the lack of licensed engineering, safety procedures, trained personnel, etc., there is something nostalgic about this book that cannot be denied. It’s like when older folk reminisce about the times when they could ride in cars without seatbelts and pack all their kids and pets in the back of a truck bed and go on long, winding, speedy rides.
Kids from the 70s and 80s were tough. They licked their wounds if they got hurt in a public place - no one dared think to sue. They just walked it off, if they were lucky. And reading about what went on in Action Park, it’s amazing that many were able to do just that. What a time to be young and free! If anyone is reading this and has their own Action Park or similar days-of-yore stories, do share. I find it to be so much fun!
I see this one as a mashup of Rear Window and Only Murders in the Building. All of the characters are colorful and lovable. The setting is beautiful and peaceful, and had me thinking about my own neighbors: how well do I really know them?? As the story went on, I just wanted to learn more about these folks instead. I just loved tagging along and deciphering the clues with the main characters. I was guessing who’d done until the very end. A fun and satisfying read indeed.
